Container capping mechanism



May 2, 1939.

T. PETERSEN CONTAINER CAPPING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 21, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 1 P llVENTOfQ 7 M %M M,

ATTORNEYS May 2, 1939. T. PETERSEN 2,156,700

CCNTAINER CAPPING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 21, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR for/Mm ATTORNEY51 May 2, 1939. T. PETERSEN CONTAINER CAPPINGMECHANISM Filed Nov. 21, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR fivmve Q A ATTORN EYS May 2, 1939. T. PEfERsEN 0 l i CONTAINER CAPPING MECHANISM I FiledNdv. 21, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 V XQINXENTOR fi-W Wm)! ATTORNEYS PatentedMay 2, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Wright & 00.,

Buffalo, N. Y.

Application November 21, 1936, Serial No. 112,106

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanisms for applying capsto bottles or other containers, and particularly to mechanisms of thiskind which may be used on machines for automatically applying the capsto the containers.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a container cappingmechanism of improved and simplified construction, which is positive andaccurate in operation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanism of .this kindhaving improved means for feeding caps from a stack of caps intoposition to be applied to the containers. An-

5 other object of the invention is to provide means of this kind whichare rendered inoperative when a cap is already in position to be appliedto a container.

Another object of this invention is to provide mechanism of this kindwith yielding actuating means for the feed mechanism for the caps sothat if movement of the feed mechanism is interrupted during anoperating cycle of the machine, no damage will be done to the cappingdevice.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the followingdescription and claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan View of a container filling and capping machineshowing capping mechanisms embodying this invention mounted on themachine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof, on a reduced scale.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation thereof, on line 3-3, Fig.1, on an enlarged scale.

Fig. l is a side elevation of one of the capping devices, viewed in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. '7.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional plan view thereof, on line 5--E., Fig.2.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional plan view thereof showing the parts ofthe mechanism in different positions.

Figs. 7, and 8 are sectional plan views on lines ll"? and 8-43respectively, Fig. 4, the cap feed plate being shown in a differentposition in Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of one of the capping devices on line9-9, Fig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation on a larger scale of a part of abell of one of the capping devices.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional plan View, 55 on line lll I, Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional elevation, on line l2l2, Fig. 5.

Fig. 13 is a section on line 13-43, Fig. 3.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line M- -Hl, Fig. 16,with the swinging arm omitted.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of the inner en of a swinging arm foractuating the cap feeding means.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, of themounting for the swinging arm for actuating the cap feeding means.

Fig. 17 is a similar plan view showing the arm in a different position.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated my improved containercapping mechanism as applied to a milk bottle filling and cappingmachine, but it will, of course, be understood that my cappingmechanisms may be used in connection with any other type of machine ordevice and also that the mechanism is not limited for use in connectionwith the capping of milk bottles or containers.

In the milk bottle filling and capping machine illustrated, 20represents a standard or column, the lower end of which may be mountedon any suitable base (not shown), and at the upper end of this column ismounted a tank 2| for the milk or other liquid with which the containersare to be filled. l8 represents the containers which are mounted onbottle supports 24. These supports are carried by a rotary andvertically movable table 25 in such a manner that the supports may movevertically to a limited extent relatively to the table, each supportbeing for this purpose provided with a stem I9, the lower end of whichrests upon a coil spring 22 arranged in a socket 23, Fig. 2. The tableis rotatably mounted and is moved intermittently through an arc of acircle while in the lower position shown in Fig. 2, for the purpose ofplacing the containers into vertical registration with the bottlefilling and capping devices of the machine, and. when in suchregistration, the table is moved up wardly to place the necks of thebottles into operative relation to the filling and capping devices ofthe machine, the bottle filling mechanisms being only partly shown. Inthe particular machine illustrated, four bottles may be operated upon atone time and the table supports twelve bottles separated into threegroups. In any position of the table, one group of bottle holders 24will be at the portion of the table indicated as A, Fig. 1, and at thisstation any filled and capped bottles on any of the supports at stationA may be removed from the holders and replaced by empty bottles. Duringthe next cycle of operation of the machine, these holders with the emptybottles thereon are advanced to station B, the table 25 turning in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. At station B, the bottlesare filled by means of any suitable filling mechanism, for example, suchas shown in my United States Patent No. 2,057,538 of October 13, 1936.During the next cycle of operation of the table 25, the bottles whichhave been filled are advanced to station C where caps are applied to thebottles by means of capping mechanisms embodying this invention. Whenthe machine is operating at full capacity, it will, of course, beunderstood that while some bottles are being filled, others are beingcapped and still others are at station A where the filled bottles areremoved and replaced by empty bottles.

In the particular construction illustrated, the devices for applying thecaps to the bottles are mounted upon the stationary tank 2 I, and in theconstruction illustrated, the tank is provided for this purpose withlugs or projections 28 formed integral with the tank and the caps areapplied to the bottles by means of stationary heads or plungers 29mounted on the lugs 28 in any suitable manner, for example, by means ofscrews or bolts 30. 3| represents the caps which may be of any suitableform, and which are fed into operative relation to the lower ends of theheads 29 and releasably held in this position until they are pressedinto the necks of the bottles. On the lower end of each head 29 ismounted, a bell or bottle guide 32 which is sli-dable vertically on thehead 29, and which normally drops by gravity into the positions shown inFigs. 4 and 9, in which position an inwardly extending shoulder 32a ofthe bell engages an annular outwardly extending shoulder on the head 29.The bell is raised by the neck of a bottle and moved upwardly by thetable 25 and the bottle supports 24 yieldingly mounted thereon, theflexibility of the springs 22 compensating for variations in the heightof the bottles. It will be noted that each bell is provided on its lowerportion with an annular recess 33 adapted to fit the upper end of theneck of the bottle to properly center the bottle with relation to thecap 3|, see Fig. 9, and each bell is also prevented from rotating by anysuitable means, such for example as a lug or key 34, which cooperateswith the capper housing as will hereinafter be described. It will benoted that in the construction described, the caps are forced into thenecks of the bottles by moving the bottles upwardly against thestationary head 29. A bell or bottle guide of other construction may, ofcourse, be provided.

Each capping device includes a magazine 35 for a stack of caps in whichthe caps move downwardly by gravity and from the lower end of which thecaps are fed one at a time to the cap applying position beneath the head29. These cap magazines 35 may be in the form of the usual cardboardtubes in which the caps are supplied by the manufacturer or, if desired,a specially constructed tube may be provided into which the caps may beplaced, and the lower end of the tube fits into a cylindrical socketformed in a frame member or housing 36 of the capping device. This framemember has an upright wall of substantially oval shape, as clearly seenin Fig. 7. One end of the housing has an upright opening extending fromthe top to the bottom thereof for receiving the cap magazine 35 anddischarging caps from the bottom of the housing. The housing also has atop wall or web 37 preferably formed integrally therewith. This housingis secured in fixed relation to the machine in any suitable manner, andin the construction shown, this is accomplished by extending the topwall or web 31 laterally beyond one side of the housing and providingthe same with an aperture through which a reduced stem or shank 38 ofthe head 29 extends. The web 31 is, consequently, clamped by means ofthe screw or bolt 30 between a lug 28 of the tank and a shoulder formedbetween the head 29 and its shank 38, and is thus rigidly secured on themachine and in correct relation to the capping head 29. It will also benoted that the side of the housing 35 has a vertical slot into which thelug or key 34 of the bell extends to hold the bell against turning aboutthe head 29.

The caps are fed one at a time from the bottom of the cap magazine intoa position below the heady 29, as shown in Fig. 9, and any suitablemeans may be employed for feeding the caps in this manner. In theparticular construction illustrated, I provide a segmental oscillatoryfeed member or plate 49, which is suitably mounted to slide on thebottom face of the housing or frame member 35 of the capping device. Inorder to provide for the oscillatory motion of the feed member 49, theframe or housing 36 of the capping device is provided with anotherupright cylindrical chamber or aperture 4| in which a pivot member orpost 42 is journalled, to the lower end of which the oscillatory feedmember or plate 40 is rigidly secured in any suitable manner. The upperend of the post extends slightly above the top plate or member 3? of thehousing and the post 42 may be held from dropping downwardly out of itscylindrical aperture 4! in any suitable manner, for example, by means ofa nut 43 secured by means of screw threads to the upper end of the post42, the lower face of the nut bearing against the upper face of the topplate 31 of the housing. 44 represents a locking screw for locking thenut 43 in any adjusted position. Any other means for pivoting or movablymounting the cap feeding plate 40 on the capping device may, of course,be provided, if desired.

From the foregoing description, it will be obvious that the cap feedplate 49 may swing along the lower face of the housing 36 from a cap receiving position shown in Fig. '7 to a cap discharge position shown inFig. 8. The cap feed plate 40 is provided at an edge thereof with aprojection which is depressed slightly below the upper face of thisplate to form a seat 45 for a cap, the depression of the seat below thetop face of the plate 49 being not more than the thickness of a cap.When the cap feed plate is in the cap receiving position, the cap seat45 will be positioned directly under the cap magazine so that thelowermost cap of the stack drops upon the seat. Consequently, when thecap feed plate 49 is swung from the position shown in Fig. 7 to thatshown in Fig. 8, the lowermost cap will be carried on the seat 45 into aposition directly underneath the capping head 29, and during thismovement of the feed plate 40, other fiat portions of the feed platewill support the stack of caps. I provide means for releasably holdingthe cap underneath the capping head 29 on the bell 32, and for thispurpose, the bell is provided in a side thereof with a slot or opening4'! through which the cap seat 45 and adjacent portions of the cap feedmember 40 may pass. The bell is also provided with a shouldered portion48, in which the cap may be held beneath the head 29 until positioned ina container.

Suitable means are provided for yieldingly holding a cap in theshouldered portion or recess 48 of the bell, and in the constructionshown for this purpose, I provide a lever 50 pivoted at 5| between twolugs or projections 52, 53, Fig. 10 extending outwardly from the bottleguide or bell 32, and one end of this lever is provided with a cap holding finger 54 which is arranged to extend through the slot or opening4'! of the bell 32. A spring 55 yieldingly urges the lever into adirection in which the finger 54 will engage a cap in the bell 32.Consequently, when the cap feed plate 40 is swung into the positionshown in Fig. 8, it will be noted that the edge of the cap engages theinner end of the finger 54, and thus moves this finger outwardly to alimited extent. As the cap feed plate 40 is moved back from the positionshown in Fig. 8 to that shown in Fig. '7, the finger 54 will hold thecap, pressing the same against the shouldered portion 48 of the bell.Subsequently, when the capping device and bottle are moved relatively toeach other for positioning the cap in the neck of the bottle, forexample, due to the upward movement of the table 25 of the cappingmachine, the bottle will engage in the annular recess 33 of the bell andpress the bell upwardly on the capping head 29, so that this head movesthe cap downwardly out of engagement with the finger 54 and theshouldered portion 48 of the bell and into the upper end of the neck ofthe bottle or container. Further. upward movement of the bottle willcause the head 29 to press the cap into its seat in the neck of thebottle. As soon as the cap is moved out of engagement with the finger54, this finger will move inwardly against the capping head 29, thusproducing a swinging movement of the lever 59 from the position shown inFig. 8 to that shown in Fig, '7.

which is provided with an open ended slot 58, and

oscillatorymotion may be applied to the cap feed plate 40 by means of anarm 6|] having a pin tl extending into the slot of the arm 51. Thesearms are moved by any suitable means in such a manner as to impartmotion to the feed plates .53 alternately in opposite directions. Themovement of the feed plate .6 into cap receiving position may be limitedin any suitable manner, for example, by means of an outwardly extendingstop lug 62 formed on the bell 32 and with which the lug 51 engages.Movement in the other direction will, of course. be stopped when the capengages the shouldered portion 48 of the bell.

In the operation of a bottle filling and capping machine, it frequentlyhappens that there may be no bottles on one or more of the bottlesupports 24 while in the capping station C of the machine. It is,consequently, very desirable that means be provided for interrupting thefeed of caps from the cap magazine when a cap is already positionedunder the capping head 29. For this purpose, I provide the cap holdinglever 55 with an arm 65a having a finger or detent 65 at the endthereof. I also provide on the cap feed plate 40 a finger or lug 66. Thedetent or finger 65 and lug 66 are so positioned relatively to eachother that when the finger 54 of the lever 50 is in engagement with anedge of a cap as shown in Fig, 8, then the lever 50 will be swung aboutits pivot and against the action of the spring 55 into a position inwhich the detent 65 will be in the path of movement of the lug 65, sothat the feed plate 40 cannot move entirely back into its cap receivingposition. Obviously, unless the cap seat 45 of the plate 40 iscompletely underneath the cap magazine, no cap will drop into the seat.Consequently, if the cap under the head 29 is not removed fromengagement with the finger 54, no additional cap will be fed to the feedplate 40, and when the feed plate is again actuated by its arm 68, nofeeding of a cap will take place, If, however, a bottle is moved intocapping position so that the cap is inserted into the neck of thebottle, the finger 54 will be released and will move inwardly, thuspermitting the detent finger 55 to move out of engagement with the lug65, which in turn will permit the feed plate 40 to be advanced from theposition shown in the upper part of Fig. 11, to the cap receivingposition shown in the lower part of Fig. 11.

In order to provide either for a complete return motion of the cap feedplate 44) to its cap receiving position or a partial return movement,the arms 60 are yieldingly mounted so as to produce a yielding pressureagainst the slotted arm 57. The arms 6!! may be actuated in any suitablemanner, and in the construction illustrated, movement is imparted to thearms 69 by suitable positively actuated mechanism, and the arms 58 areyieldingly mounted with reference to such mechanism, so that they canmove the cap feed plates 46 either partly or entirely into their capreceiving positions. In the particular construction shown for thepurpose, the arms (it are yieldingly mounted upon an oscillatory part orring 10 suitably arranged upon the stationary column of the machine.This column includes, in addition to an outer tubular member 20, aninner substantially concentric tubular member H, and these two tubularmembers are connected by means of an annular column head it having adownwardly extending flange E3 suitably secured to the inner tubularmember H of the column. As shown in Fig. 13, this head is split and maybe clamped about the inner tubular member H by means of a clamping screwor bolt its. In addition, the head 12 may be fastened to the innertubular member H by means of a screw Hi. The head also has a downwardlyextending flange l5 fitting within the outer tubular shell 2!) of thecolumn and held in place relatively to the same by means of one or moreset screws '55. The head 12 has an outwardly extending flange or part itto which the tank 2| of the machine may be secured and the outer surfaceof the head 12 also provides a bearing for the oscillatory ring it, thelower edge of which may, if desired, bear against the upper edge of theouter tubular member 29 of the column.

oscillatory motion may be imparted to the arm supporting ring iii in anysuitable manner, and in the particular construction shown, this isaccomplished by means of an oscillatory upright shaft or rod arrangedwithin the column, the lower end of which may be actuated by anysuitable mechanism operating in properly timed relation to themechanisms for raising and lowering and turning the table 25, whichmechanisms are not shovm. The upper end of the rod 88 is provided withan arm or projection 8! which extends through a recess or cut-outportion 82 formed in shaft 89 is imparted through the arm 8| to the ring10.

The arms 69 may be yieldingly mounted on the oscillatory ring iii in anysuitable or desired manner, and in the construction illustrated, thering 19 is provided at a portion of its periphery with a flange orbracket 85 which is provided with a series of upright pins 86, two beingprovided for each arm 99, the pins preferably extending above and belowthe bracket 85 of the ring 19 and at opposite sides of approximatelyT-shaped holes or openings 86 of the flange. The inner ends of the arms99 are formed to cooperate with the pins 86, and are, consequently,provided with flaring ends 87 having a pair of substantially -C'semi-cylindrical sockets 88 adapted to engage the upper ends of a pairof pins 86. Each arm 66 is also provided with a downwardly projectingarm or part 89, which extends through a hole or opening 84 of the flangeand to the lower end of which is secured a pair of outwardly extendingprojections 90, which are also provided with similar substantiallysemi-cylindrical recesses adapted to engage the lower ends of the pins9E. Each arm 89 is yieldingly urged into a position 1'; in which therecesses 88 and 95 will be in engagement with both the upper and lowerends of a pair of pins 86, and for this purpose, a spring 93 isprovided, one end of which engages the arm 89, and the other end ofwhich bears against a portion of the flange or bracket 85 of the ring'19. Each spring 93 may be located in a hole or opening 84 and may beheld in correct relation to the arm 89 by means of a lug or projection94 adapted to enter into an end of the coil spring 93 and the other endof this spring may extend into a socket formed in a threaded member orscrew 95 secured in a part of the flange B5 of the ring 19. The hollowscrew 95 has a screw-threaded engagement on its outer surface with theflange 85 so that the pressure of the spring 95 can readily be adjustedas may be desired.

By means of the construction described, the arms 60 will be normallyurged by their springs 95 into a position in which the recesses 88 and9| engage a pair of pins 86 as shown in Fig. 16. The oscillatory motionof the ring 19 is preferably slightly more than required to move the capfeed plates 40 through their entire path of movement, and this excessmovement is, consequently, taken up by the swinging of the arms on oneor another of the pins 86. Consequently, when the ring H1 is turned intoa position to enable the cap feed plates 40 to receive caps from themagazines, the arms will swing about one of their pins 86, as shown inFig. 5. In the event that one or more of the cap feed plates is heldfrom moving into its cap receiving position by means of the detentfinger 65, as shown in the upper part of Fig. 11, the arm 69 will swingto a greater extent about one of its pins 86, and while in thisposition, the spring 93 of this arm, of course, urges the arm toward aposition in which it would engage both of the pins 86. Consequently, ifthe cap is removed so that the lever 50 swings the detent 65 out ofengagement with the lug 66, the action of the spring 93 will cause thecap feed plate 40 to move rapidly into cap receiving position underneathits cap magazine 35, as shown in the lower part of Fig. 11. When thearms are in positions to urge the cap feed plates into cap receivingpositions, as shown in Fig. 5, each arm will, consequently, bear upononly one of its pins 86, and when the arms are swung into positions tomove the cap feed plates into positions to deposit a cap under eachcapping head 29, the arms will be in engagement with their other pins86, as shown in Fig. 6. By means of this construction, great accuracy inthe extent of movement of the ring 10 is not necessary, and furthermore,if for any reason any part of one or more capping devices becomesinoperative or jammed, the springs 93 will merely become compressed to agreater degree by a greater swinging of one or more arms 60 about one oranother of its pins 86, and no breaking or damage to any part of thecapping mechanism will result.

The construction described has the further advantage that the largerparts of the capping devices, such as the heads 29 and the frame 36together with the cap magazines supported thereon, are stationary, whichresults in a more positive and reliable operation of the same.

Another advantage of the capping mechanism described is that if themachine to which the capping mechanism is applied is operated withouthaving any containers supported on the container supports 24, or if someof the supports have bottles thereon while others have none, no harm orloss of caps results, since the levers 5|] will prevent the feeding ofcaps in any capping device having a cap positioned under the cappinghead 29.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a container capping mechanism, the combination of a magazine for astack of caps, means for pressing a cap into operative relation to acontainer, a movable feed member having a predetermined alternatingstroke for removing caps one at a time from said magazine andpositioning the same in operative relation to said cap pressing means,and means operative when a cap is in an operative position with relationto said pressing means for arresting said feed member in its movement toits position to receive a cap from said magazine before said feed memberreaches that position whereby reception of another cap for delivery tocapping position is avoided.

2. In a container capping mechanism, the combination of a magazine for astack of caps, means for pressing a cap into operative relation to acontainer, a movable feed member for removing caps one at a time fromsaid magazine, means for yieldingly holding a cap in operative relationto said pressing means, and cooperating parts on said feed member andsaid cap holding means which, when said cap holding means is inengagement with a cap, acts to prevent completion of movement of saidfeed member into cap receiving and removing relation to said magazine.

3. A container capping mechanism, including a stationary cap applyinghead, means for moving containers toward and from said head for applyingcaps thereto, a magazine for a stack of caps also arranged in fixedposition with relation to said capping mechanism, a movable feed memberfor supplying caps, one at a time, from said magazine to said head, anda member which yieldingly holds a cap in operative relation to saidhead, said member when in cap holding position also interrupting theoperation of said feed member.

4. A container capping mechanism, including a stationary cap applyinghead, means for moving containers toward and from said head for applyingcaps thereto, a housing secured in fixed relation to said head, means onsaid housing for supporting a stack of caps, a feed member movablymounted on said housing for supplying caps, one at a time, from saidstack to said head, and a lever pivotally mounted on said housing foryieldingly holding a cap in operative relation to said head, said leveralso stopping movement of said feed member when a cap is held by saidlever.

5. A container capping mechanism for use on a machine having avertically movable container support, said mechanism including a cappinghead and a cap magazine, a cap feeding member movable between saidmagazine and said head for supplying caps one at a time from saidmagazine to said head, said machine having an oscillatory part, an.abutment on said part, an arm bearing aginst said abutment and having apart engaging said feeding member, and yielding means between said armand said part to hold said arm against said abutment and yieldinglytransmit oscillatory motion of said part to said arm and to said feedingmember.

6. A container capping mechanism for use on a machine having avertically movable and yieldable container support, said mechanismincluding a capping head secured on a fixed part of said machine, a bellslidable vertically on said head and adapted to receive and center thebottle with relation to said head, said bell having means for releasablyholding a cap in position beneath said head, a magazine for a stack ofcaps mounted in fixed relation to said head, a cap feeding device forfeeding caps one at a time from said magazine to said bell, a movablepart on said machine from which movement is imparted to said cap feedingdevice, and a yieldable connection between said movable part and saiddevice.

7. A container capping mechanism for use on a machine having a containersupport, said mechanism including a capping head, a cap magazine, amovable cap feeding member for supplying caps, one at a time, from saidmagazine to said head, said machine having a movable part and an armflexibly mounted on said movable part and engaging said cap feedingmember, said arm and said movable part being connected by means of apair of pivot members arranged side by side with their axes extendingapproximately parallel to each other, and yielding means for urging saidarm into engagement with both of said pivot members, whereby said armmay swing about either of said pivot members against the action of saidyielding means.

8. A container capping mechanism for use on a machine having a containersupport, said mechanism including a capping head, a cap magazine, amovable cap feeding member for supplying caps, one at a time, from saidmagazine to said head, said machine having a movable part provided witha pair of pivot pins arranged side by side, an arm having at one endthereof a pair of sockets arranged to engage said pivot pins, andresilient means for urging said arm into contact with both of said pivotpins, the other end of said arm engaging said cap feeding member.

9. In a container capping mechanism, the combination of a rotarycontainer support, a standard on which said container support ismounted, an oscillatory member mounted on said standard and movablethereon independently of said container support, means for pressing acap into engagement with a container, means for providing relativemovement of said container support and cap pressing means for causingsaid pressing means to press a cap into engagement with a container, amagazine for a stack of caps, means for feeding the caps one at a timefrom said magazine into operative relation to said pressing means, anarm extending between said oscillatory member and said feeding means, apart on said member against which said arm abuts, opposed projections onsaid member and said arm, yielding means arranged under compressionbetween said projections for yieldingly retaining said arm against saidpart, and which, should the movement of said feeding means beinterrupted, yields to enable said oscillatory mem ber to complete itsmovement without damage to said arm and said feeding means.

10. In a container capping mechanism, the combination of a containersupport movable about an upright axis and also movable vertically in adirection substantially parallel to said upright axis, means forpressing a cap into engagement with a container when said containersupport moves upwardly, a magazine for a stack of caps, means forfeeding the caps one at a time from said magazine into operativerelation to said pressing means, a standard on which said containersupport is mounted, an oscillatory member rotatably mounted on saidstandard and movable alternately in opposite directions independently ofsaid container support, and a yielding connection between said capfeeding means and said oscillatory member for imparting oscillatorymotion of said member to said cap feeding means.

11, In a container capping mechanism, the combination of a magazine fora stack of caps, means for pressing a cap into operative relation to acontainer, a movable feed member for removing caps one at a time fromsaid magazine, a cap holding lever, yielding means engaging said leverto urge one arm thereof yieldingly into engagement with a cap whenpositioned in operative relation to said pressing means for yieldinglyholding said cap in position to be applied to a container, the other armof said lever being arranged to extend into the path of movement of apart of said feed member when said lever is in said cap holding positionand which, when the cap is removed from engagement with said cap holdinglever, is automatically moved out of the path of movement of said feedmember by said yielding means.

12. In a container capping mechanism, the combination of a magazine fora stack of caps, means for pressing a cap into operative relation to acontainer, a movable feed member for removing caps one at a time fromsaid magazine, a pivoted means for lever, yieldingly urging said leverto swing about its pivot into a position in which one arm thereofengages a cap for holding the cap in position to be applied to acontainer, and cooperating stop parts on said feed member and said leverfor arresting said feed member before completion of its movement intocap receiving relation to said magazine as long as said lever issupporting a cap in operative relation to said cap pressing means.

13. In a container capping mechanism, the combination of a member forpressing a cap on a container, a magazine for caps, a cap feed memherfor feeding caps from said magazine into operative relation to saidpressing member, a cap holding member having a part which extends into aposition to engage a cap for supporting the same in operative relationto said pressing member, and means for yieldingly urging said capholding member into said position to hold said cap, said cap holdingmember having a part which swings into the path of movement of said feedmember when said cap holding member is in cap holding position to stopthe operation of said feed member before the same moves to a position inwhich it can receive another cap and which releases said feed memberwhen said cap is removed from operative relation to said pressing memberto enable said feed member to complete its movement to cap receivingposition.

THORVALD PETERSEN.

